TEST

I think it is safe to say that prolonged pleasant Fall temperatures are now behind us. South-Western Ontario is starting to look and feel like winter. The foliage is complitely gone and woods are starting to get dusting of snow that will soon become permanent layer. This certainly does not imply stopping my trail visits, but as far as mushrooms are concerned it marks the end of season. The absence of greenery force wild life to turn to mushroom nibbling. Evidence can be spotted everywhere.  Remember, the animal consumption of certain mushroom is not proof that it is edible! My prediction of second Blewit wave did not materialize. Generally I find a lot more Blewits in coniferous than in deciduous woods (spotting mushrooms in the needle layer is easier than digging through thick leaf debris), but this year it was not the case. As usual, one of the main Fall mushrooms, Velvet Foot , was quite rare in my area. I found only several small growths. The Oysters were complete disappointment,

The weather roller-coaster is continuing in Southern Ontario. Days are very pleasant and occasionally outright hot. Nights are getting chilly with sporadic frost. Perfect conditions for Late Fall Oysters . Despite late date many logs have multiple bunches of small mushrooms. Unless deep freeze comes there will be Late Fall Oysters to pick for several more weeks. Tricholomas are showing up, mainly the gray varieties like Tricholoma myomyces and Tricholoma virgatum . They are not prolific and abundant as usual. I suspect the reason is too hot days. These mushrooms are really cold lovers and even enjoy frost. Generally I do not bother with any Tricholomas and do not eat them. The Brick Top ( Hypoloma sublateritium ) is quite common site. They love secluded places on the fallen trunks and blend very well into the colors of fallen leaves. I sometimes wander if  actually I am dealing with Hypoloma capnoides . As far as literature goes it is very hard to distinguish between two species in